Seven Things You Aren’t Quite Sure How to Clean (and How to Clean Them)
Cleaning, especially deep cleaning, is a chore we don’t get around to often enough, especially when it comes to certain items in our home. Sure, we do the basics – wash dishes, sweep and mop, vacuum, laundry, some light dusting – but what is it we’re missing?
This list might open your eyes to some things in your home that have been neglected (don’t worry, you are not alone in this). So we’ll give you some pointers on how to clean these items that don’t get as much care as they need.
Bath Towels
Bath towels that have been used a lot, sometimes no matter how many times you wash them, still retain a stagnant odor that doesn’t seem to go away. After a while, and frequent washing, towels actually build up detergent and residue that attracts mildew. So try this to keep it clean.
Pick up these items:
- 1 cup white vinegar
- ½ baking soda
- HOT water
Run your load of towels through the washing machine with HOT (like boiling hot) water and the vinegar. Once the cycle finishes, add the baking soda and run through another cycle with hot water. Dry towels thoroughly and enjoy the freshness!
Cutting Board
Cutting boards with all of their grooves from cutting on them so often need a little more attention than your average dish. Because of the grooves, they tend to retain an odor that isn’t very pleasant.
So, wash your cutting board as normal with hot, soapy water. Afterwards, cut a lemon in half and rub it over the surface of your cutting board to help eliminate those lingering odors.
Hair Brushes
When was the last time you cleaned your hairbrush? For most people, the answer is probably a hard NEVER.
Hair brushes collect a lot more than just your hair though. Any hair products you use, dust and dead skin build up on your brush over time.
To clean them, first pull off as much hair as possible. Then soak them in a sink or small tub of warm, soapy water.
Dish soap works great for this. The build up will loosen.
Then you can rinse off your brush and let it air dry before storing again.
Outside Garbage Can
Do you ever wonder what that horrid smell is as you walk from your car back into your house? It could very well be your own outdoor trash can.
Those things do not get cleaned very often or ever.
Wait until garbage day so the can is empty. Then take it to a place where you don’t mind spraying soapy water.
Lay the can on its side, squirt a bunch of dish soap inside and “pressure wash” it with a garden hose. Let it air dry before placing garbage in it again.
Garbage Disposal
With all of the leftovers that get thrown down your sink and garbage disposal, it probably needs a good cleaning at least once a month, preferably more.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Lemons
- White vinegar
- Ice cube tray
Cut up your lemons into 1-inch wedges (or small enough to fit in your ice cube tray). Place a piece into each section of the ice cube tray, then fill each section with vinegar.
Freeze them and then store the cubes in a plastic bag in the freezer. Throw a frozen vinegar lemon cube into the garbage disposal and run until it’s dissolved. Use them as often as you’d like.
Ceiling Fans
Not sure how to clean your ceiling fan without sending dust flying all over the room? Try this out.
Use a pillow case! Place a pillow case over the blade of the fan, place your hand on top of it and pull the dust off.
The dust will stay inside the pillow case. When you’re done, you can shake your pillow case off outside and wash it as normal.
Carpet
Carpets can be difficult to clean. Carpets definitely don’t get washed near as much as they should with all of the traffic that goes through them and dust they collect.
A simple vacuum job a couple times a week won’t cut it, especially if you have pets or small children.
Here are a couple carpet cleaning hacks to try:
- Use a squeegee to remove pet hair.
- Baking soda can remove oil stains, pet accidents and freshen your carpet.
- Shaving cream removes dirt stains.
- Rubbing alcohol removes nail polish.
- Use vinegar or an ice cube to fluff impressions in the carpet.
- Use ice to remove gum.
If your carpet needs a little more attention than you can offer it, then try a professional service like Idaho Steam Cleaning. Or if you have a stain you have questions about removing yourself, call and ask a professional the best way to take care of it.
Fleas, ticks, mites and bugs are the common types of insects usually found in our beds. They are the tiny monsters that beset us in our sleep and even deprive us of our sweet dreams.
Here are the five simple steps to clean your mattress and keep those tiny monsters out.
